Center of gravity

 Try balancing a meter rule with your index finger. At which mark
did you observe the ruler does the ruler balance?
Center of gravity
 Why does a uniform metre rule balance only at the 50 cm mark?

When the pivot is not at the 50 When the pivot is at the 50

cm mark, the moment of the cm mark, the ruler is
weight W is not zero. This balanced. The moment of
causes the ruler to turn the weight is zero.
clockwise about the pivot.
Center of gravity

 Definition:
 The center of gravity of an object is defined as the point
through which its whole weight appears to act for any
orientation of the object.
Center of gravity
 Center of gravity of some regularly shaped objects:
Centre of gravity
 How to find center of gravity of an object?
 We use a plumb line as follows:

A piece of thin lamina that is suspended at various positions will come to

rest with its weight acting directly downward as indicated by a plumb
line. Where do you think the centre of gravity is?
How to find center of gravity of an object?

Locating the center of gravity of a lamina by the plumb line method. Note that
two lines are sufficient. The third line serves as a check.
Center of gravity experiment:
Stability
 Definition:

The property of a body that causes it to return to its original position or

state of motion as a result of the action of the restoring forces once its
equilibrium has been disturbed.
Factors affecting stability:

 Base of support
 Location of the center of gravity
 Mass
 Line of gravity
Base of support:

 The area in contact with the supporting surface plus the intervening
area
 Wider base of support means grater stability
Location of center of gravity
 The point where the weight of the body is concentrated; the point where a body
may be hung without rotation
 Center of gravity has to be as low as possible for greater stability
Mass

 The amount of matter in a body

 Greater mass means greater inertia
 Body must be heavy for greater stability
Line of gravity
 The vertical line passing through the center of gravity
 Line of gravity must pass within the base of support for greater stability
States of equilibrium

 An object may be in one of the following three states of

equilibrium:
 Stable
 Unstable
 Neutral
Stable equilibrium:
 The body returns to its original position after the disturbing force has been removed
 Characteristics of stable objects:
 Wider base
 Low center of gravity
 Heavy mass
 Line of gravity passing the base of support
Unstable equilibrium:
 When a disturbing force is applied, the body falls over and seeks a different position
 Characteristics of unstable objects:
 Narrow base of support
 High center of gravity
 Light mass
 Line of gravity passing outside the base of support
Neutral equilibrium
 When a disturbing force is applied, the body is displaced but its center of gravity remains
at the same level
 Characteristics of neutral objects:
 circular and spherical bodies
 Center of gravity neither lowered nor raised after disturbing force
 Bodies that roll on their sides
Conditions of equilibrium
 Fora body in equilibrium, it must satisfy certain conditions. There are
two conditions for a body to be in equilibrium.
 First condition of equilibrium
A body is said to satisfy the first condition for equilibrium if the
resultant of all the forces acting on it is zero. Let n number of forces
 F1, F2, F3,……, Fn is acting on a body such that:
F1 +F2+F3+……+Fn =0
or ∑ F =0 ……
The symbol ∑ is a Greek letter called sigma used for summation.
Conditions of equilibrium

 First condition of equilibrium examples

 A book lying on a table
 A picture hanging on a wall, are at rest and thus satisfies the first
condition for equilibrium.
 A paratrooper coming down with terminal velocity also satisfies
the first condition for equilibrium and is thus in equilibrium.
Conditions for equilibrium

 Second condition of equilibrium

 If the body is not in equilibrium although the first condition for
equilibrium is still satisfied. It is because the body has the tendency
to rotate. This situation demands another condition in addition to the
first condition for equilibrium. According to this, a body satisfies
the second condition for equilibrium when the resultant torque
acting on it is zero. Mathematically:
∑ τ =0
Conditions for equilibrium

 Second condition of equilibrium examples

 The force applying on the steering of the car
 Couple
 Children playing on the sea saw